RALEIGH (January 17, 2012) - On Thursday, January 19, the North Carolina NAACP, NC Justice Center, and UNC Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity will kick off the first leg of the “Truth and Hope Tour of Poverty in North Carolina,” a state-wide tour of rural counties and inner city neighborhoods where North Carolinians have struggled to find work, decent housing, transportation, and sufficient food for their families.

Departing from Raleigh on Jan. 19, a bus full of activists, reporters, foundation leaders, and scholars will travel through the northeast quadrant of the state, engaging in town hall meetings, sessions with local leaders, and tours of neighborhoods directly affected by poverty. Members of the press are encouraged to attend events and join the bus tour to engage in this crucial event.Watch a trailer for the tour here.THURSDAY, JANUARY 19